Post-Audit Code Mutation

Post-audit code mutation occurs when a protocol updates its smart contracts after they have undergone a security audit without getting those changes reviewed. This creates a security gap where the audited version of the code is not what is actually running on the network.

These mutations can be minor, such as configuration changes, or major, such as logic adjustments, but all carry risk. Users often rely on the existence of an audit report without verifying if the deployed code matches the audited version.

This is a common trap that can lead to devastating exploits. Maintaining security requires that any change to the codebase be subject to the same level of scrutiny as the original audit.